Singapore, October 10, 2011
Can you make $35 million just by selling simple western fare, cakes and pastries?
Yes, you can and that's what the owners of Han's Cafe and Cake House chain achieved last year, according to The Straits Times today.
The daily reported how Mr Han Choon Fook and his siblings expanded the family business, which had its humble beginnings as a bakery in 1978 in Upper Thomson.
In the 1970s, his father also had a kiosk selling sandwiches, cakes and pastries. He also used to run a canteen at the British Naval Base in Sembawang.
Today, the Han family runs 25 outlets after opening their first cafe outlet at The Arcade in 1980.
They still remain humble despite their success. Mr Han, for instance, still clears dirty tables.
Popular with office workers at The Arcade are its curry puffs, chicken pies, burgers, sandwiches, omelettes, and fish and chips which uses beer in its batter.
A special item is the Hainanese Chicken Curry, inspired by the one made by his father.
Apart from using good curry powder, it has more shallots, garlic and ginger, following the style of his father's curry.
Mr Han told The Straits Times he perfected the recipe after some experimenting. The result? It is not too heavy nor too greasy.
Others who have had a hand in creating the various Han's signature flavours include his uncles who used to worked in the famous Red House bakery and a chef who had worked for the Singapore Cricket Club.
If you miss some of the old colonial flavours, you might be able to find them among the new dishes that Mr Han has developed.
Apart from pastas, focaccia sandwiches smoothies and five kinds of Earl Grey tea, you can find traditional dishes like Hainanese porridge, beef Hor Fun and sweet sour prawns.
Read also:
Customer felt old Han's food was better
Can you make $35 million just by selling simple western fare, cakes and pastries?
Yes, you can and that's what the owners of Han's Cafe and Cake House chain achieved last year, according to The Straits Times today.
The daily reported how Mr Han Choon Fook and his siblings expanded the family business, which had its humble beginnings as a bakery in 1978 in Upper Thomson.
In the 1970s, his father also had a kiosk selling sandwiches, cakes and pastries. He also used to run a canteen at the British Naval Base in Sembawang.
Today, the Han family runs 25 outlets after opening their first cafe outlet at The Arcade in 1980.
They still remain humble despite their success. Mr Han, for instance, still clears dirty tables.
Popular with office workers at The Arcade are its curry puffs, chicken pies, burgers, sandwiches, omelettes, and fish and chips which uses beer in its batter.
A special item is the Hainanese Chicken Curry, inspired by the one made by his father.
Apart from using good curry powder, it has more shallots, garlic and ginger, following the style of his father's curry.
Mr Han told The Straits Times he perfected the recipe after some experimenting. The result? It is not too heavy nor too greasy.
Others who have had a hand in creating the various Han's signature flavours include his uncles who used to worked in the famous Red House bakery and a chef who had worked for the Singapore Cricket Club.
If you miss some of the old colonial flavours, you might be able to find them among the new dishes that Mr Han has developed.
Apart from pastas, focaccia sandwiches smoothies and five kinds of Earl Grey tea, you can find traditional dishes like Hainanese porridge, beef Hor Fun and sweet sour prawns.
Read also:
Customer felt old Han's food was better
In those days the Raffles area was more happening as there were many shops: Change Alley, Chulia Street, etc
